Iconic Vietnam

Vietnam’s 12th Nguyen Emperor broke from many of the traditions set in stone by his predecessors’ tombs. Instead of separating his crypt and temple, Khai Dinh housed both in Thien Dinh Palace — a single structure built into the side of a steep hill on the outskirts of Hue. The overall area of the tomb occupies a much smaller parcel of land than many of the other tombs, but it is easily the most opulent and flamboyant.

Built with the help of 10,000 workers and artists, Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb manages to strike a perfect balance between the stately and the sublime. Travelers looking for a photo-worthy example of Nguyen Dynasty architecture will find it here.

Leave the beaches behind to see the Golden Sand Dune of Mui Ne. These dunes are majestic and feel far removed from the busy seaside town. The winds change their shape every day, ensuring that no one ever photographs the same dunes twice.

Love Valley makes for a pleasant stroll on a sunny afternoon in Dalat. This garden showcases Dalat’s famous blooms as well as kitschy, cartoonish statues. (Lots of people prefer to use the adjective “tacky,” but we’ll let you be the judge!) Come here to appreciate stunning views of Da Thien Lake and experience the unique ambiance of many a Vietnamese courtship and honeymoon.

The artistic Emperor Tu Duc left behind an intricate tomb and a legacy plagued by upheaval. He faced the first waves of French colonialism and had a long reign filled with intrigue, including one coup attempt. The longest reigning of the Nguyen Emperors, Tu Duc sat on the throne from 1848 to 1883. He had no heir of his own, as a bout with smallpox in his childhood left him unable to have children. His reign marked the end of an era and soon after his death Vietnam fell to the French.

Though it has been renamed the Saigon Municipal Theatre for some time now, everyone in Ho Chi Minh City still refers to the elegant building in the center of Lam Son Square as the Saigon Opera House.

Marble Mountain is just a short drive from Da Nang. These mountains are made of a mixture of marble and limestone, although nowadays the marble is left intact.

See Vietnam’s quirky side at the last Emperor of Vietnam’s summer palace. This unique building in the hills outside of Dalat is like nothing else you’ll see in the country.

Phat Diem Stone Cathedral is a prime example of blended Eastern and Western architecture. Visitors to Ninh Binh come here to see an aesthetic shaped by Vietnamese Catholicism, built toward the end of the French colonial reign. On the outside, the cathedral looks traditionally Vietnamese, but inside the church looks more distinctly European.

For a long time, there was confusion about who the architect was that designed the Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City. Today we know it was not Gustave Eiffel – as was long reported – but in fact, a lesser-known character named Alfred Foulhoux who envisioned and created the grand structure that still captivates everyone who comes through its doors.

One of the most recognisable landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City, the Notre-Dame Cathedral occupies the Công xã Paris (Paris Roundabout) in District 1, flanked by a stately tree-lined park and the historic Saigon Post Office. The cathedral was officially commissioned after several thwarted attempts by the Roman Catholic Church to build a church for believers in Vietnam’s southern capital.